The Pied Piper of Hamelin: Russell Brand's Trickster Tales - Hardcover

Brand, Russell

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1476791899 ISBN 13: 9781476791890

Publisher: Atria Books, 2014

Synopsis

With this first book in Russell Brand’s Trickster Tales series, the famed comedian, actor, and bestselling author delivers a hilarious retelling of an old fairytale favorite that will appeal to adults and children alike.

Once upon a time, long ago, in a time that seemed, to those present, exactly like now except their teeth weren’t so clean and more things were wooden, there was a town called Hamelin. The people of Hamelin were a pompous bunch who loved themselves and their town so much that if it were possible they would have spent all day zipped up in a space suit smelling their own farts. But space suits hadn’t been invented yet so they couldn’t.

Then one day without warning a gang of rats bowled into the town and began causing a right rumpus...

So begins Russell Brand’s wildly funny and surprisingly wise retelling of the classic tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Whether you’re a kid or a grown-up kid, you’ll be chuckling the whole way through this zany story that bypasses Brand’s more adult humor for the outrageous, the madcap, and the just plain silly.

Maybe you’ve heard about the Pied Piper before, with his strange music and those pompous townspeople and pesky rats. Or maybe you haven’t. But one thing is for sure: you’ve never heard it quite like this.

About this title

About the Author

Russell Brand is a comedian, actor, radio host, and bestselling author of My Booky Wook. He has starred in the films Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, Despicable Me, Hop, and Arthur, and now is the host of his own acclaimed TV series on Channel 7 in the UK, The Russell Brand Show. He lives in London.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—In this retelling of the medieval German folktale, the hubris-filled residents of Hamelin are overrun by a polygamous, narco-egalitarian, rat collective of the worst order. Only "gammy-legged" Sam and his mother possess any measure of humility and kindness (for which they are later rewarded). As in the original, the citizens agree to pay the curious, almost otherworldly piper if he can remove the rats. When they later renege on their promise, the piper removes the children of Hamelin as well. As the musing, interrupting narrator, Brand quietly and thoughtfully delivers asides and astute observations as to the character of Hamelin's citizens, who include Fat Dave and Sexist Bob. As the piper, Brand's voice has an almost mesmerizing quality, like the legendary piper's music, lulling the listener into a contemplative state. Sadly, occasionally brilliant phrasing and subtle commentary are sandwiched between overly exuberant character voices and crass jokes. One can write a children's book with wryly amusing social commentary; one can write a children's book replete with poop and fart jokes. It is nearly impossible to balance the two. VERDICT It will be difficult for this book to find an audience outside Brand's existing fan base. Too bad. It had promise.—Lisa Taylor, Ocean County Library, NJ

About this edition

• Publisher: Atria Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1476791899
• ISBN 13: 9781476791890
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128
• Illustrator: Riddell Chris